COVENTRY legend Jim Broderick has died, aged 65, after a long and brave battle with cancer.

A prop forward and occasional lock, Broderick made 386 appearances for Cov from his debut against Rugby Lions in September 1961 to his final game against Dublin Wanderers in October 1980. Club president from 1998 to 2000, Broderick also played for Warwickshire and the Barbarians and toured Canada (1967) and Japan (1971) with England.

England won all their matches in Canada in 1967 and again in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Ceylon four years later as Broderick toured with Coventry club-mates such as Phil Judd, Fran Cotton, Peter Rossborough, Rodney Webb and Geoff Evans.

Broderick suffered a back injury on the Far East tour which contributed to him missing out on full international honours. At the end of his club playing career, Broderick became involved in coaching, serving Coventry as part of the successful coaching team under Derek Eves, and he was made the club’s first honorary life vice president in recognition of his services.

Ill health restricted his attendance at Coventry matches in recent seasons and he passed away in a hospital in Hinckley on Friday. A minute’s silence was observed before Saturday’s game at the Butts Park Arena which saw Coventry beat second-placed Exeter 35-28 and, moving into eighth place in the table, ease their National Division One relegation concerns.